An Ultimate Blueprint | MBA 2020-22

Some of you have arrived at ‘B-school of your Dreams’ & some of you had to settle for the best available choice.

#MBA as a professional course is a long-term investment and your approach over the next 20 months will prove to be a make or break factor. While most of you are here to grab that fat cheque afterward, (About which you have been hearing about, from your seniors, neighbours & even your relatives) your investment in academics, peer-learning, technical & interpersonal skills, corporate competitions, corporate live projects, and internships will decide the final outcome.

“What should I expect from my life in the next 20 months? Is there an approach, which could help me in gaining the maximum output out of my MBA? How should I go about the above-mentioned aspects? “

I have tried to answer these questions as per the best of my abilities and a different approach might get you the same outcome. The approach has been divided based on the below schedule of an MBA life, (It can be different for some cases like Annual fests, Autumn Internships for SPJIMR and you can shift your approach according to them):

Let's check out the plan for each term, which will keep you one step ahead of all the challenges being thrown at you:

Term 0: (Preparations before you join your respective B-Schools)

Research about student bodies at the campus by talking to alumni & current students and prepare the list of ones, which provides you the best learning experiences & which aligns with your future goals.

Look for a mentor among your alumni who can guide you or help you with anything mentioned below. Be in their contact and tell them about your progress in individual aspects like academics, corporate live projects, etc. Ask them about, ‘Where’ & ‘How’ to improve.

Term 1:

1. As the CV Building and Summer Placements commence from the next term, prepare your priority list of companies & profiles, which are being offered at your campus by taking help from the last 2 years’ summer placement reports.
2. Try to gain some important technical skills by doing courses (Relevant to companies and profiles offered at your campus, which you are targeting) or gain CV points by participating in B-School Competitions like Eximius by IIM Bangalore or many others, which can be found on Dare2Compete.
3. Try making 2-3 drafts of your resume with the help of your seniors and get them finalized by the end of 1st Term.
4. If you are interested in Finance, get your forms submitted for #CFA & #FRM exams as you get an early discount before a specific deadline.
5. Make a priority list of corporate competitions, which you are going to target with the best of your abilities. (as more than 2-3 are launched in a single week) Try to learn the basics of a B-Plan, Marketing Strategy, Simple Financials, Go to Market Strategy, etc. & make a list of frameworks & Online Research Databases used in various cases. This would prove to be gold for your performance in corporate competitions.
6. Start preparations for your CFA/FRM exams with the help of experienced peers, seniors, and their notes.

Term 2:

1. Start following the latest business topics and current affairs for your #interviews & GD preparations.
2. Get your answer for the following ready:

• Tell me about yourself
• Your Strength & Weaknesses
• Your short term & long-term goals
• Why this company?
• Your work experience & your final year project (If you‘re a fresher)

Term 3:

1. Research about electives offered at your campus & prioritize according to your preferred domain, faculty, and skills you want to gain from that course.
2. Start preparations for your CFA/FRM exams with the help of experienced peers, seniors, and their notes.
3. Research about the senior who got his/her internship at the same company. Ask for advice regarding their approach, plans, stakeholder management, criteria for PPOs, etc.

Note:

Be consistent in your academics throughout the first year, as:

1. The CGPA until term 3 will be considered as your shortlisting criteria for final placements.
2. You will choose your future career choices mostly due to experience in these 3 terms.

Summers:

1. Focus on converting a Pre-Placement Offer at your internship and if you do not want to pursue your career in that industry or profile, Start updating your CV with projects, achievements, etc.
2. Contact your alumni for guidance and mentorship regarding your preferred role.
3. Divide your time accordingly in April so that you can prepare for your CFA/FRM exams properly.

Term 4:

1. Make a priority list of corporate competitions, which you are going to target with the best of your abilities. (as more than 2-3 are launched in a single week). This time, your priority is the PPO s, and therefore, prioritize all the corporate competitions according to your preferred domain & profiles.
2. Update your list of frameworks, Online Research Databases, and approaches for various aspects of a solution (B-Plan, GTM Strategy, Financials, Marketing Strategy, etc.)
3. Prepare a priority list of companies coming to your campus for final placements with the help of the last 2 years’ reports.
4. Make different CVs for different roles, which you may be targeting in the final placements. Get them finalized with the help of your alumni and peers.
5. If you are planning to give your CFA-I/FRM-I, II in the next term, then start preparing right from June, as soon as you are done with your summer internships.

Term 5:

As you will be busy mostly with your fests & corporate competitions, keep revising the same questions, which you went through before your summers in Term 2. Some new questions for your interviews (a must):

• Why this role?
• Learnings & Summary of your summer placements
• Why this company?

Term 6:

1. This is the time to look deep within: what were your learnings & your shortcomings? Set a target for yourself in terms of new skills, which you want to learn in the next year.
2. You can relax now. Plan your trips, which you may have planned along the road with your friends.

At the end of this journey, the most important output will be "Experience/Memories" and "A Family for Life", which will be with you for life.

I wish you all the best for your dreams and plans ahead!